CIPFA concerned at impact of additional funding cuts

"The whole austerity programme has been a journey into unchartered waters. To date the performance of public bodies in managing unprecedented funding reductions has been remarkably good. It is the absence of economic growth rather than a failure to manage cuts which has thrown the Government's recovery strategy off track.

“However, we are now moving into the area of greatest uncertainty. Constructing the plan for 2015/16 is challenging; delivering more cuts and major change programmes when politicians are focused on the General Election will be extraordinarily difficult."

Specifically CIPFA has concerns about the impact of a further 10% cut to local government funding in 2015-16 which comes on top of a 35% reduction announced in 2010 covering 2011-2015. CIPFA believes it will be particularly challenging for local government to absorb yet another large reduction in funding.

The government has argued that when other measures are taken into account, such as powers to raise additional local income and other central government funding, local government spending reduces by only 2.3%.

However all of these measures are contingent upon factors largely outside of local government control. The ability to increase revenue from now largely localised business rates is dependent on a growing economy, and individual central government funding streams are neither guaranteed in the long term nor distributed evenly across the country.

In addition, the announcement of a council tax freeze grant for a further two years will only add to authorities medium to long term financial pressures and permanently reduce their resource base.

Both the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office have expressed concern in the recent past about the Government’s understanding of the impact of cuts on local government and this further cut will continue to be felt most deeply by those local authorities with the greatest need.

Another significant announcement as part of the spending review was the integration of health and social care. CIPFA welcomes the £3bn that will be spent on services commissioned jointly by local NHS and local councils working together.

Commenting on the announcement on the integration of health and social care, Alison Scott, CIPFA’s Local Government Policy Lead, said,

“Closer working and joint planning between health and social care should lead to a far more effective use of resources for the system as a whole. This has been achieved so far in a variety of different ways from joint planning between organisations through to full integration.

“The announcement of £3.8bn in a single pooled budget to be spent on services commissioned jointly by local NHS and local councils working together is therefore welcomed and should build on the experience of the successful projects to date, recognising the diversity of existing approaches.”

CIPFA, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, is the professional body for people in public finance. Our 14,000 members work throughout the public services, in national audit agencies, in major accountancy firms, and in other bodies where public money needs to be effectively and efficiently managed. As the world’s only professional accountancy body to specialise in public services, CIPFA’s portfolio of qualifications are the foundation for a career in public finance. They include the benchmark professional qualification for public sector accountants as well as a postgraduate diploma for people already working in leadership positions. They are taught by our in-house CIPFA Education and Training Centre as well as other places of learning around the world. We also champion high performance in public services, translating our experience and insight into clear advice and practical services. They include information and guidance, courses and conferences, property and asset management solutions, consultancy and interim people for a range of public sector clients. Globally, CIPFA shows the way in public finance by standing up for sound public financial management and good governance. We work with donors, partner governments, accountancy bodies and the public sector around the world to advance public finance and support better public services. This includes the development of local professional qualifications in African countries like Lesotho and Nigeria and in Europe in post conflict states in the Balkans.

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CIPFA, registered with the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales No. 231060 and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator No.SCO37963. CIPFA Business Limited, the trading arm of CIPFA that provides a range of services to public sector clients, registered in England and Wales no.2376684. Registered Office 77 Mansell Street, London E1 8AN